AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
Department of Biology
Getting the most from your co-variates
1) Identify known relationships
Temperature: Elevation, Slope steepness, Slope direction
2) Make use of functionality where known
Soil moisture = alpha2+ 1/beta + gamma
3) Include interaction between co-variates (when expected)
Temperature = Elevation * Slope steepness + Slope direction * Slope steepness
4) Check there is substantial variation of the covariate within your domain
5) Check relationship holds on timescale you’re interested in
6) Consider using another variable you already downscaled e.g. Temperature
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Don't do it Daily Weekly Monthly Annual
Use with caution Surface air temperature
All clear Soil moisture 0.5m and below
Soil moisture 0-0.5m
Radiation variables
Wind speed